New technologies and techniques are changing creative expression in music.

Today's audio and music industry whether studios, production companies, or tech firms look for practitioners who think outside the box but also know what goes on inside it.

Studying this field opens career pathways from musical practice and professional sound to acoustics and audio software development. It allows you to explore and influence technological and musical innovations to shape the future of audio.

Why UWE Bristol?

BSc(Hons) Audio and Music Technology receives both accreditation and acclaim from JAMES, the education arm of the Association of Professional Recording Services (APRS) and the Music Producers Guild (MPG).

They describe the course as 'amongst the best in the UK and of international standing'.

This course is ideal if you're passionate about music and the technology behind it, but don't necessarily have formal musical training or prior technical experience.

It allows you to explore and develop advanced knowledge, techniques and technologies for recording, production, musical expression, digital creativity, audio programming and the science of sound (acoustics and psychoacoustics).

Musical opportunities abound on and off campus, through our celebrated Centre for Music and countless venues, groups, studios and projects in one of the UK's most musical cities.

Gain valuable real-world experience and a professional portfolio through a series of placements that prepare you for a career in the music industry.

Where can it take me?

Learn from professionals and experts from the music, film/TV and technology industries and research, and prepare for a variety of careers in audio.

Choose from careers in audio and sound engineering as well as performance, composition and concert management. Work in creative areas where there is a heavy reliance on technology such as film, theatre and the arts. Apply your technical expertise with audio hardware and software companies, designing new musical instruments and digital technologies or as an acoustician, designing new spaces and concert halls.

Graduate destinations include the BBC, Allen & Heath, Focusrite/Novation, plus various studio and production houses worldwide. Get support for freelance careers through Impulse, our in-house music technology innovation and enterprise studio and bridge to professional practice.

Accreditations and partnerships:

Content

The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.

Year one

You will study:

Introductory Audio Programming

Audio Engineering

Audio Technology

Theory of Music

Exploring Music.

Year two

You will study:

Audio Process Design and Implementation.

Plus, three optional modules from:

Audio Recording

Applied Audio Systems

Mobile and Physical Computing

Research and Practice in Music Technology.

Placement year (if applicable)

If you study on the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work placement after Year two.

You'll complete a professional experience module.

See the Placements and Fees sections for more information.

Final year

You will study:

Music Technology Project.

Plus, at least two optional modules from:

Instrument Recording Investigation

Audio Post Production

Software Development for Audio

Live Sound.

Plus, optional modules from (the number depending on credit requirements):

Professional Experience or International Experience or Professional Development

Audio for Games

Sonic Art

Game Audio Programming

Advanced Performance

Advanced Composition II

Architectural Acoustics.

The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we will inform you.

Learning and Teaching

Getting to grips with new subjects can be demanding, but we aim to support you throughout your studies.

We take a practical approach that uses lab investigation and experiments to help you understand, explore and remember ideas more easily.

Develop a foundation of skills in music and computing and build your creative skills as a composer and performer. Work on your programming skills to extend your digital studio.

Discover the science and engineering of sound and study how instruments are engineered to produce their characteristic sound behaviour. Explore how a range of digital signal processing techniques are used for effects and synthesis.

Choose modules that allow you to specialise in your areas of interest. Undertake an individual final year project, a chance to delve into a specific area you're passionate about in depth.

Play and perform a range of musical styles at our celebrated Centre for Performing Arts. These include a thriving Symphony Orchestra, Big Band, Brass Consort, Chamber Orchestra, Contemporary Music Group, Chamber Choir and the University Singers.

Attend industry talks from visiting professionals, including TV and film sound recordists and composers from the BBC.

Professional accreditation

This course is accredited by JAMES, the education arm of the Association of Professional Recording Services (APRS) and the Music Producers Guild (MPG).

Placements

Students who get work experience tend to graduate with better degrees. Experience also hones your skills, industry knowledge and professional network, making you highly employable on graduation.

If you study on the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend your third year away from the University on a work or study placement. We also actively support freelance and self-employed modes of work, to help prepare you for the increasingly contract-based nature of work in the audio industry.

Past students have worked with national orchestras. Others have worked in acoustics, recording and post-production studios for the BBC, Dolby and Acoustic Design. Several leading tech firms, such as Focusrite/Novation, Allen&Heath and ROLI/JUCE actively recruit graduates and interns from the course.

Fieldwork

We arrange trips to the Dolby Labs and other technology pioneers, so you can experience the latest in emerging tools and formats.

You'll also get to explore technology and sound systems behind the scenes on trips to locations such as BBC Studios and the Albert Hall.

We encourage students to get involved on projects with local organisations. Our students have worked with the BBC composing music for wildlife programmes and producing audio for festivals and radio, podcasts for the Natural History Museum and recordings for local industry partners and venues.

Study facilities

Create and enhance music in our well-equipped studios and performance spaces.

Compose and play in a choice of four performance spaces with options ranging from live to dead acoustics.

Record and mix audio in our studios with professional standard analogue and digital consoles.

Mix music in our advanced surround mixing room, six control rooms and isolated booths.

Indicative Additional Costs

Supplementary fee information

Your overall entitlement to funding is based on how long the course is that you're registered on. Standard funding is allocated based on the standard number of years that your course lasts, plus one additional year.

You'll apply for funding each year that you study and Student Finance will take into account how long the course is in each year that you apply. So if you register for the four year course and then transfer to the three year course, the number of years you can apply for funding will change. Student Finance will reassess your funding based on how many years you have been in study, not just those years for which you received student finance.

Always seek advice before taking any action that may have implications for your funding.

Typical offers

Tariff points: 112

GCSE: For all applicants, Grade C/4 or above in English Language and Mathematics, or equivalent. Please note the University does not accept Level 2 Key Skills, Functional Skills or Certificates in Adult Numeracy and Literacy as suitable alternatives to GCSEs.

A-level subjects: Music or Music Technology preferred . You can include points from A-Level General Studies and AS-Level subjects (not taken onto full A-Level) towards overall tariff. You must have at least two A-Levels.

Access: Achievement of the Access to HE Diploma; to include 15 level 3 credits at merit.

Baccalaureate IB: A minimum grade of 5 in higher level Music preferred.

Entry requirements

We recognise the individual nature of each application and our typical offer should be viewed as a guide. UWE Bristol welcomes interest from applicants who may not have the standard entry requirements. We will consider evidence of your relevant personal, professional or educational experience where it demonstrates an ability and potential to succeed on the course. Please include details of any relevant experience in your application.

If you receive an offer for this course, you may be invited to attend an Offer Holder Day in February or March. These are a great opportunity to find out what it's really like to study here. You'll experience taster lectures or workshops, meet your course tutors, current students and other offer holders.

If you don't meet the entry requirements of this course, you may be able to apply for Foundation Year entry into this or related degree courses.

If you are an international student and do not meet the academic or English language requirements to study this course, you can qualify by completing preparatory study at our International College.

English language support

If you meet the academic requirements but require additional support to take your language skills to the required level, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Students who successfully complete the pre-sessional course can progress onto their chosen degree course without retaking an IELTS or equivalent.

If you have not received your exam results, your offer from UWE Bristol will be conditional and will be subject to you achieving the tariff points/grades required for your course.

If you have already satisfied the academic entry requirements of your chosen course, you are likely to be made an unconditional offer. Please note that UWE Bristol will only make unconditional offers if you have already achieved your qualifications.

To make sure our applicants are academically prepared for when they start their studies at UWE Bristol, we do not make unconditional offers to those that are still studying their Level 3 qualifications (such as A levels, BTEC, Access or equivalent). We hope that this will encourage our applicants to value their academic achievements as much as we do.

How to apply

UCAS Extra: We welcome applications through UCAS Extra for this course between 25 February and 4 July 2019. We aim to give you a response to your application within 21 days.